The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the research and analysis division of The Economist Group and the world leader in global business intelligence.

Created in 1946, we have 70 years’ experience in helping businesses, financial firms and governments to understand how the world is changing and how that creates opportunities to be seized and risks to be managed.

Current highlights

Creative disruption: Asia’s winners in the US-China trade war

Our latest report examines which countries in Asia will benefit most from the US-China trade war. It focuses on the comparative advantages in the economies of North-east, South-east and South Asia, examining the broader region overall, and discussing the opportunities and disruptions caused by the ongoing trade war.

The 2018 Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion

The Global Microscope is a benchmarking index that assesses the enabling environment for financial access in 55 countries. This year’s index was completely revised to take a forward-looking focus on digital financial services, and to address the critical role of financial inclusion envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Order and progress? Brazil's post-electoral outlook

Ahead of the upcoming second round of presidential elections in Brazil, the report examines the potential candidates, their manifestos, and the key challenges the winner will face during their first term.

What we offer

Consultancy solutions

Our clients ask us to solve problems that are specific to them.

Whether it is deciding which Latin American country will provide the best operating environment for a logistics business, predicting which cities in China will emerge in the coming years to have the most favourable income levels and socio-demographics for a specific consumer product or assessing distribution channels in Africa for construction equipment, we can help.

Economic, political and socio-demographic forecasting

Country and city forecasting

Identify market opportunities

Risk analysis

Bespoke modelling and scenario analysis

Industry analysis

Location benchmarking

Economic, political and socio-demographic forecasting

The world is changing rapidly. Where are the sources of revenue and profit going to be for your business tomorrow? If you need to understand how political trends will affect regulations for your industry in Chile, how disposable income is changing for 30-35-year-old women in Poland or when a frontier market in Sub-Saharan Africa will become mainstream, we can help.

We understand that businesses need to identify where the next opportunity is coming from so that they can act fast to seize it.

Our knowledge of economics, politics and socio-demographics is second to none. If you need to see into the future, we can help.

Country and city forecasting

Our team comprises experts on every country in the world. If you need to know how quickly the US will grow over the next five years or what residential construction will take place in Saudi Arabia, we can help. Or in Thailand, Algeria or Kazakhstan. But sometimes five years is not enough.

Many of our clients have investment horizons measured in decades. Our proprietary methodologies let us look ahead 30 years or more, using frameworks you can understand and rely on.

And if countries are too broad for your business, we forecast growth, spending, income and investment in cities from Dongguan to Dhaka.

Identify market opportunities

We are able to draw upon the knowledge of a large pool of country and industry experts, as well as proprietary economic and risk models, to help clients identify new markets and perform better in existing ones in a fast-changing world. Through our structured cross-market research and forward-looking data and analysis we help you to understand how changing economic conditions affect your business:

Risk analysis

Success in business means the considered embracing of risk—without risk, there can be no reward. This means that risk management is an ongoing part of business life. But in order to manage risk, you need to measure it. How? We have tools and models that help to combine quantifiable risks such as default rates with qualitative issues such as political or regulatory instability. We use these tools to help companies do everything from managing their supply chain to setting location-specific discount rates.

Clients decide which countries to enter, which suppliers to order from and which logistics routes to use based on our bespoke dashboards. And, if you are focused on financial risks, we are a registered credit rating agency for assessing sovereign creditworthiness. We also assess exchange-rate and banking risks.

Bespoke modelling and scenario analysis

We are the experts in data modelling and analysis. We use the very latest techniques to model our clients' sales data, helping them to predict how their business will perform. Some even share our analysis with their suppliers to help to inform their production decisions. But we also produce bespoke models for other purposes.

If you need to understand how a country or industry will respond to an event like a currency crash or energy shock, we can model that too.

Or, if you are doing business planning, we can provide country, industry or market scenarios based on expert judgement, modelling or facilitated debates within your organisation.

Industry analysis

We do not just look at countries or cities. We also analyse industries. Our speciality is to understand the intersection between industry developments and the surrounding economic, political and regulatory context. Our team has expertise in financial services, telecoms and technology, consumer goods and retail, automotive, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, commodities and energy.

So if you need to dive deep on banking in Peru, tablets in Romania or mining in Mongolia, we can help.

We can also help to unravel the supply chain, identify the key regulatory decision-makers, analyse the purchasing decisions or pinpoint the logistical bottlenecks.

Location benchmarking

If you need to make a decision, you need to rank the options. But how to do that when the key decision factors vary from economic to political, from cultural to geological? The Economist Intelligence Unit's benchmarking and indexing capabilities can help. We are experts in combining qualitative and quantitative data, and weighting it together to form league tables and conduct multi-dimensional comparisons.

We have helped companies to rank cities by their attractiveness to the car-rental industry, benchmarked the incentives offered in special economic zones for the technology industry and prioritised markets in Central America for a financial services firm. We have even produced rankings of countries' peacefulness for a philanthropic organisation, and benchmarked the security regime that countries apply to their stocks of nuclear material.

Healthcare industry services

We have an especially deep capability in healthcare across developed and emerging markets. We offer services to insurers and payers, helping to design clinical care pathways, undertake medical evidence reviews and consult on value-based health. We help pharmaceutical and medical technology firms to demonstrate value.

We advise on strategy in all areas of healthcare using techniques such as horizon scanning and megatrend analysis. We provide market insight to pharmaceutical and medical technology firms and clinical providers through our market intelligence, market sizing, channel optimisation and commercial due diligence capabilities.

China

China is the second-largest economy in the world, and is the top destination for many international firms looking to grow. China is also home to many of the world's up-and-coming businesses, which are increasingly looking to expand in other emerging markets and also in western Europe and the US. Unsurprisingly, it is a market where we have exceptional expertise.

Our Beijing and Shanghai team routinely tracks and forecasts developments in 287 cities across the country to help our clients win in China. And, for our Chinese clients, we tap into our worldwide team of experts to assess opportunity, help to manage risk and advise on strategy in any market in the world—and deliver our conclusions in China, in Chinese.

Country Analysis

The EIU is the world's leading provider of country analysis and forecasts. Subscribers get access to regular, detailed economic and political forecasts for countries as well as assessments of the business and regulatory environment in different markets.

Our services provide clients with a briefing on the outlook for a country, helping them to understand how things stand at the moment and the direction a country is moving in. We also interpret new data and recent events in light of their implication for the future.

Coverage is structured in the same way for each country allowing for easy comparison.

Our wide network of on-the-ground contributors, a team of highly skilled analysts and a rigorous forecasting model offer subscribers assurance of the highest possible quality of content.

Risk Analysis

Our risk services identify actual and potential threats around the world and help our clients understand the implications for their organisations.

Country credit risk is a major concern for institutions that have investments overseas. We publish regular reports to help subscribers make informed and immediate decisions regarding a country's creditworthiness.

The EIU is approved by the European Securities and Markets authority as a credit rating agency.

Industry Analysis

We offer a unique perspective on industries because of our understanding of global economic and political factors. This enables us to deliver strategic context for each industry.

We provide our clients with regular analysis of key events and company news for all major industries, keeping them abreast of how these events affect their businesses and giving them a deeper understanding of what future market trends mean to them.

Our forecasts are based on the latest data and in-depth analysis of industry trends. We also publish price forecasts for 25 of the world’s key commodities.

Economist Corporate Network

Success in business is not just what you know but who you know.

The Economist Corporate Network (ECN) combines both. Harnessing the world-leading reputation and convening power of The Economist Group, we offer members-only executive forums in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In regular briefings, roundtable discussions and large events, our experts deliver our insights on the economic, political and business trends of today’s high-growth markets. Members include top-tier multinationals, as well as up-and-coming regional and national players.

88%

2500+

100+

Director level or above

Executive members

Meetings every year

You can network here

Turkey and Middle East

Sub-Saharan Africa

China

Southeast Asia

Japan

Hong Kong

Turkey and Middle East

We have active, growing Corporate Networks in Istanbul and Dubai that run dozens of executive meetings each year. Please get in touch for more information.

Hong Kong

Our thinking

The EIU publishes a number of reports each year focussing on current issues affecting specific countries, regions and industries. These reports are available at no cost and help business leaders prepare for opportunity. Download your copy today.

EU - Automotive - The European Parliament votes to raise the targets set by the EU Commission and set new goals for electric vehicles.

Each month The EIU publishes its forecast for the global economy. Watch this video to view a summary of our current forecast.

Global outlook March 2018

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The Global Forecasting Service (GFS) gives forecasts for the economies by region; identifying not only opportunities, but threats that may derail the forecasts. In addition a commodity outlook is provided for a range of hard and soft commodities. These forecasts provide the foundation for the information contained with The EIU subscription and custom research services. The GFS service is free of charge.

EIU HealthcareSee sample
Together with our two specialized consultancies, Bazian and Clearstate, EIU Healthcare provides you with the latest research, analysis and recommendations across the healthcare ecosystem.
Frequency: Monthly

Top 10 most viewed countries

October 2018

Featured practices

We cover all major industries and sectors and have developed specialisms in a number of areas.

China

China is the second-largest economy in the world, and is the top destination for many international firms looking to grow. China is also home to many of the world's up-and-coming businesses, which are increasingly looking to expand in other emerging markets and also in western Europe and the US. Unsurprisingly, it is a market where we have exceptional expertise. Our Beijing and Shanghai team routinely tracks and forecasts developments in 287 cities across the country to help our clients win in China.

Healthcare

We have an especially deep capability in healthcare across developed and emerging markets.

Bringing together two specialised consultancies, Bazian and Clearstate, with EIU’s outstanding and world renowned analytical, econometric & strategic advisory services, we help healthcare organisations to build and maintain successful and sustainable business across the healthcare ecosystem.

We support all participants in the healthcare ecosystem in value demonstration, market insight & intelligence, insuror & payor solutions, and with strategic advisory services.

Public Policy

We are trusted by the most influential stakeholders in public policy and international development across the world – clients including The World Bank, Citigroup, United Nations and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to name but a few.

Why us?

Custom solutions

Rio Tinto employs people from all over the world to work in their Product Groups. As part of a human capital planning exercise, they needed information to validate the labour market risks they face as they develop their workforce and look to understand labour trends over the short to medium-terms. The EIU developed a three-phased approach: A Human Capital Risk Index that provided an overview of human capital availability and business risks across 52 countries, a series of country/provincial reports that provided a deeper understanding of the mining and

minerals operating and regulatory environment plus a series of labour supply estimates that quantified the outlook for the available labour pool across 20 occupations needed in each country. With this information Rio Tinto made evidenced-based decisions on market priorities, operating conditions in key markets, and conducted detailed human capital planning in priority markets.

Custom solutions

Measuring global food security for DuPont

Increasing global population and economic growth in emerging markets have put increasing pressure on food supply networks, raising prices around the world. As a company involved in food and agriculture, DuPont wanted to look at the challenges involved in the production and distribution of food globally, and identify which countries can improve food systems in order to improve overall food security.

The EIU assessed the food security systems of over 100 countries through a selection of approximately 20 to 25 quantitative and qualitative indicators. After assigning a score to a set of select indicators, The EIU created a ranking of the countries and weightings for both the indicators and indicator categories, producing the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). Today, the GFSI highlights where in the world nutritional quality and safety of foods is most at risk based on the underlying drivers most affecting food security.

Custom solutions

Patient engagement and health promotion

Media hype about health stories often leads to an increased burden on health resources. It can increase demand on primary care as worried patients seek advice, and on occasion can lead to “social panic” with detrimental effects on health resources.

Together with the NHS, we developed a public health site called ‘Behind the Headlines’. Every morning two stories from the media are identified and our analysts will publish an unbiased critique with detailed reviews of clinical evidence on the NHS choices website by midafternoon.

By reviewing the story, the evidence and the reporting, we provide a much more objective view. This helps to empower patients to make informed choices in self-management of their care and exercise informed choice in making health decisions.

Custom solutions

As part of its mission to advance global human capital knowledge, the SHRM Foundation sought credible analysis on critical issues that will affect HR leaders in the coming years.

Through a combination of data-driven research, direct engagement with stakeholders and effective market exposure, the SHRM Foundation's objective was to educate those in HR and business management and position itself as a globally recognized catalyst for shaping Talent Management Thought Leadership.

The EIU partnered with the SHRM Foundation on a multi-phase program to identify, analyse and then promote thought-provoking research on the most important trends affecting human capital management and global workforce dynamics by leveraging a combination of EIU expertise, surveys of business leaders and expert peer panels to identify the most relevant HR topics; creating a series of evidence based analyses and tangent content to educate and prepare HR leaders for key issues in their field; and engaging stakeholders with EIU produced research via events, seminars, online digital content, and broad public relations promotion.

Custom solutions

The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies (NPES)

The print industry is being disrupted by new technologies and trends putting pressure on the demand for print media. At the same time, rising incomes are boosting demand for printed materials in the developing world.

NPES, a print industry trade association, wanted to inform its members of what print sectors and emerging markets have opportunities for growth. How fast will Turkey's print industry grow? When will China’s print market surpass the United States?

In partnership with NPES, The EIU conducted a global market-sizing and 5-year forecast of 51 countries representing 90% of the global print market and an individual assessment of each country. The EIU’s rigorous and complex study was also comprehensive – including 5 print sectors and the integral markets for printing equipment, consumables, inks, and substrates.

Subscription services

Our client (a major international bank) offers a broad range of services to personal and institutional customers, including governments.

It has significant activities in a large number of countries. Consequently, there are many ways in which changes in business conditions and the economy in a single country or region or globally can adversely impact profitability, whether at the level of the group, individual business units or specific countries of operation.

The bank is a long-time subscriber to The EIU's Country Risk Service. They use the service to understand the threat of sovereign default in individual countries as well as the risks associated with currencies and banking sectors around the world.

The Country Risk Service assists the bank in setting credit limits for countries and in controlling the risks that accompany investment in emerging and developed economies. The service is viewed as an integral part of the bank’s risk management strategy.

Subscription services

Our client is a leading global management consulting firm focussed on serving and shaping the senior agenda of the world's leading institutions. They employ a significant number of staff in offices around the world.

The company subscribes to a range of EIU services including Country Data and Market Indicators & Forecasts from our data services range.

The firm relies on The EIU’s data products to react quickly to information requests from their consultants all over the world, ensuring that client projects are not delayed for want of reliable statistical information.

They are able to draw on over a million data points from the Country Data service covering key indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and exchange rates. Market Indicators & Forecasts provides vital demographic and sectoral supply and demand forecasts to facilitate market sizing and regional strategy projects.

Subscription services

The EIU supplies its information services to many types of academic institutions. Our customers include Ivy League colleges, the highest-ranked European and Asian universities as well as the world's leading business schools.

It is vital for students at these institutions to have a thorough grasp of the political, economic and business environment around the world now and in the future. Equally important is for the source of that information to be reliable and impartial.

Academic institutions typically subscribe to the complete range of EIU Country Reports, covering over 180 countries. Access to Country Reports allows both students and faculty to stay completely up-to-date with the latest economic and political situation in any given country. In addition, the in-depth forecasts contained within Country Reports allow users to see how individual countries will look in two to five years' time.

Custom solutions

This client already had a significant presence within China but came to us to find out the next group of cities and provinces that offered the best growth potential for the next decade.

Using an existing Economist Intelligence Unit subscription service, we built a model incorporating the client’s own product demand data to provide industry-specific growth forecasts at a provincial level.

We analysed demographic changes in the provinces and forecast future demand for the client's product at a regional level. Using the province forecasts, we were able to compare data across the provinces and prefectures.

With these findings, the client justified a costly acquisition. Consequently the client now has the resources in place to maximise future opportunities, helping to ensure the company maintains its position as market leader.

Custom solutions

A multi-national corporation, that designs and sells consumer electronics, wanted to better understand manufacturing conditions in Chinese provinces and South-east Asia in order to determine ideal manufacturing centres for its products in the future.

To do this, they required research to rate and rank the selected geographies based on criteria specific to their manufacturing operations. The Economist Intelligence Unit developed a baseline assessment to support strategic decision-making in terms of locations for electronics manufacturing. The EIU indexed, and ranked, technology manufacturing conditions for five Chinese provinces and six countries for the next five years.

The research has allowed the client to understand technology manufacturing conditions across key geographies and to make informed decisions on where to manufacture its products.

Custom solutions

Hospital investment due diligence

The client, a leading private equity investor in Asia Pacific, was considering investment into an Indonesian hospital group. They needed comprehensive commercial due diligence on the market and asset, to make an informed investment decision.

A team of six full time consultants with specialist skills and local Indonesian knowledge were stationed exclusively in the data room, validating the investment thesis as the deal went live. The Economist Intelligence Unit built a demand-forecasting model using statistical and primary data to assess the achievability of the target’s business case. We also validated the strength of the hospital group's business model through interviews with its insurance partners and targeted patient groups.

Our client was presented with an objective depiction of the commercial circumstances of the target and was able to make an informed investment decision.

Custom solutions

Market share, size and competitor study

The client, a global player in in-vitro diagnostics, required annual market monitoring of its market size, share and competitors to better benchmark its performance and evolve its market strategy across 14 markets globally.

The EIU provides an annual engagement that taps on detailed quantitative hospital surveys, qualitative physician and extensive trade interviews to provide a comprehensive and triangulated view of the market in niche segments.

The client is able to retain market leadership supported by up to date, granular and segmented market information.

About us

We are the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, the sister company to The Economist newspaper. Created in 1946, we have nearly 70 years' experience in helping businesses, financial firms and governments to understand how the world is changing and how that creates opportunities to be seized and risks to be managed. A British company, we are intensely global. We service clients across the world from our 24 offices, our staff speak over 25 languages and we embrace foreign cultures with a passion.

We believe that deep insight comes from bringing together the best data with the best methodologies and the best people. We deploy huge resources to acquiring and checking our economic and market data, including the use of primary research techniques and fieldwork when necessary. Some of our methodologies, frameworks and analytical tools are quantitative, others qualitative. But all are cutting edge. And our people are all experienced country or industry experts, opinionated and well qualified to inform your decision-making.

We are outspoken in our views. Unlike our sister company, The Economist newspaper, much of our work is bespoke for clients and remains confidential. But we share the same fierce passion for independence and integrity. Clients work with us because we are not afraid to tell them what we really think. We never pander to internal agendas or work to buttress some preconceived strategy. We have no vested interest in any specific recommendation—we do not undertake follow-on work to help clients to implement strategies or plan M&A. We just analyse the facts and present our conclusions. We believe that our clients execute better strategies as a result.